example analysis for Macbeth. → Review this sheet on integrating quotations (can be applied to any literature, but focuses on Shakespeare. It is always preferable to integrate the quotation directly into your analysis.
PurpVerb: Use Purposeful Verbs to integrate your quotations into your analysis:
When integrating quotations, avoid using "says" or "states", and use a more purposeful verb that conveys a richer observation of the quotation being introduced:
a) raises the point: notes, points out that, posits, argues, declares, proclaims, explains, urges, advocates, offers, assures
b) suggests: proposes, implies that, intimates that, alludes to, insinuates that, refers to, submits that
c) opposes, refutes, defies, challenges, contends, contradicts, contests, counters,
d) agrees, yields, admits, concedes, furthers a point, supports, upholds, endorses (a notion)
e) highlights: underscores, punctuates, accentuates (an emotion or sentiment)
f) illustrating emotions: showcase the full range of tone - exclaims, mourns, spews, vehemently ejects, spouts, cajoles,
Short quotations in prose or verse should be included in your own sentence and should read so that they fit grammatically into it.
Like the room, Jane is "a discord in Gateshead-hall" (15), differing from the Reeds "in temperament, in capacity, [and] in propensities" (16).
In order to integrate quotations properly into your own prose, remember the following rules:
Make sure that verb tenses in the quotation agree with verbs in your sentence. You may have to change the verb tenses in the quotation, putting the change in square brackets, though it is usually possible to avoid this often clumsy expedient by rewording your introductory sentence. As a general rule, literary essays should be written in the present tense.While the legislators cringe at the sudden darkness, "all eyes were turned to Abraham Davenport."
While the legislators cringe at the sudden darkness, "all eyes [turn] to Abraham Davenport."
Make sure that sentences are complete. You may need to add clarifying information in square brackets.Yeats asks if "before the indifferent beak."
Yeats asks if Leda "put on [the swan's] knowledge" before his "indifferent beak could let her drop" ("Leda" 15).
Clarify pronouns that have no clear antecedents. Again, the additional information should be put inside square brackets.Captain Wentworth says, "It had been my doing--solely mine. She would not have been obstinate if I had not been weak."
(This quotation is wrongly handled because the antecedent of "she" is unclear.)
Captain Wentworth says, "It had been my doing--solely mine. [Louisa] would not have been obstinate if I had not been weak."
Make sure that subject and verb agree.Wilfred Owen says that the only prayer said for those who die in battle is war's noise, which "patter out their hasty orisons."
(Subject: "noise"; verb: "patter." The subject is singular, the verb plural.)
Wilfred Owen says that the only prayer said for those who die in battle is the "rapid rattle" of guns, which "patter out their hasty orisons."
(Subject: "guns"; verb: "patter." Both subject and verb are now plural.)
bit.ly/mrgoquotations<<back to writing support
Avoid dropping quotations into your work.
→ Basic in-text citations and quotations (from Purdue U)
→ How To Fit Short Quotations Into Your Work
(from University of Victoria Dept. of English)
→ Examine the
→ Review this sheet on integrating quotations (can be applied to any literature, but focuses on Shakespeare. It is always preferable to integrate the quotation directly into your analysis.
PurpVerb: Use Purposeful Verbs to integrate your quotations into your analysis:
b) suggests: proposes, implies that, intimates that, alludes to, insinuates that, refers to, submits that
c) opposes, refutes, defies, challenges, contends, contradicts, contests, counters,
d) agrees, yields, admits, concedes, furthers a point, supports, upholds, endorses (a notion)
e) highlights: underscores, punctuates, accentuates (an emotion or sentiment)
f) illustrating emotions: showcase the full range of tone - exclaims, mourns, spews, vehemently ejects, spouts, cajoles,
Short quotations in prose or verse should be included in your own sentence and should read so that they fit grammatically into it.
- Like the room, Jane is "a discord in Gateshead-hall" (15), differing from the Reeds "in temperament, in capacity, [and] in propensities" (16).
In order to integrate quotations properly into your own prose, remember the following rules:- Make sure that verb tenses in the quotation agree with verbs in your sentence. You may have to change the verb tenses in the quotation, putting the change in square brackets, though it is usually possible to avoid this often clumsy expedient by rewording your introductory sentence. As a general rule, literary essays should be written in the present tense.While the legislators cringe at the sudden darkness, "all eyes were turned to Abraham Davenport."
- Make sure that sentences are complete. You may need to add clarifying information in square brackets.Yeats asks if "before the indifferent beak."
- Clarify pronouns that have no clear antecedents. Again, the additional information should be put inside square brackets.Captain Wentworth says, "It had been my doing--solely mine. She would not have been obstinate if I had not been weak."
(This quotation is wrongly handled because the antecedent of "she" is unclear.)While the legislators cringe at the sudden darkness, "all eyes [turn] to Abraham Davenport."
Yeats asks if Leda "put on [the swan's] knowledge" before his "indifferent beak could let her drop" ("Leda" 15).
Captain Wentworth says, "It had been my doing--solely mine. [Louisa] would not have been obstinate if I had not
been weak."
(Subject: "noise"; verb: "patter." The subject is singular, the verb plural.)
Wilfred Owen says that the only prayer said for those who die in battle is the "rapid rattle" of guns, which "patter out their hasty orisons."
(Subject: "guns"; verb: "patter." Both subject and verb are now plural.)